COMMON HOPE BLOG

Nick Henseler, age 8, traveled to Guatemala with his family this March. They all had a great time. One of the highlights was seeing the carpets being made for the Lenten processions, so they decided to do their own to celebrate Nick’s first communion. “We’re clearly not as skilled or artistic as the Guatemalan carpet [...]

Guatemala staff members Erin Treinen and Jeff Barnes were out and about last week during Semana Santa and captured some photos of the stunning alfombras, or carpets, being built around town. It’s great to have them memorialized in photos, since they are obliterated so soon after their creation by the passing processions. Check them out [...]

It is the season of the jacaranda tree in Guatemala. Also the mango, bougainvillea, cashew fruit, and a salty, dried fish that people eat during Semana Santa. The jacaranda tree only flowers for a few months every year, yet it is always in bloom for Semana Santa, or Holy Week. It matches the purple robes [...]

Our colleague NGO in Guatemala, WINGS, recently posted a great overview of the various celebrations in Guatemala throughout the month of December. As they say, it’s a chance to share the “beautiful and vibrant culture that Guatemalans and those living here enjoy, especially during the holiday season.” To learn about those celebrations and view photos, [...]